Modern Classic SLRs Series : Canon New F-1

New Canon F-1 - With the New FD Lenses

10 years development time has made a lot of differences since the early days of Canon FD Lens System, which has balloned to over 50 different lenses at your disposal when the New F-1 was launched in the early '80 and it was peaked in 1986 around the time of the T90 era, numbering to more than 70 choices. Covering a broad focal spectrum from 7.5mm to 800mm, the system includes all-seeing fish-eyes, convenient zoom lenses and amazingly powerful super-telephotos. Compact and light, their exclusive breech-lock mount makes them among the easiest and quickest to interchange. Optically, FD lenses has the reputation of high resolving power, sharpness and color balance. And to cater to the special requirements of the professional, the FD range includes several "L" series lenses which was unavailable during the previous F-1.Distinguished by a red line encircling the barrel, they incorporate aspherical elements to combat spherical aberration, particularly at wide apertures. Fluorite and UD Glass are also utilized in telephotos to minimize chromatic aberration. I have to admire those merketing genious at Canon, with only a masterly stroke - A new image for Canon's FD lenses was given a new lease of life. In a general opinion, one of the main factor of why Nikon was well received was in its optics, Nikkor lenses and thus, the most important issue in marketing for the New F-1 has to be tackled was the FD lenses. With the "L" series, Canon has successfully managed the issue, as nobody doubts about the quality of the FD lenses now.

As all of us aware, the ultimate determinant of image quality is the lens. It sets the parameters for the entire system's performance. Canon FD lenses has always been impressive in its impeccable optical quality, reliability and positive handling characteristics.

Another essential criterion by which a lens system must be judged is its comprehensiveness. The 50-strong FD lens system that came along with the New F-1 encompasses everything from fish-eye to super-telephoto. And in most cases several lenses are available for each focal length. While each FD lens features Canon's breech-lock mount for rapid lens changing. The new "L" lenses providing the professionals or those who are very particular in images or optical quality with the choice.

What are "new" in the new "L" series ? The folowing details may outline them in a short and brief form:




UD Glass and Fluorite

Fluorite is an artificial crystal formed from calcium fluoride. It eliminates chromatic aberration, a common ailment when ordinary glass is used. UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) glass is a new optical glass developed by Canon that has characteristics close to those obtained with fluorite. Its low refraction and dispersion indices provide greater edge-to-edge sharpness and contrast. UD glass and fluorite are employed together or individually in "L" series telephotos. The two optical materials also contribute to the compactness of such lenses. The "L" designation of certain lenses indicates that the lens concerned :is specially constructed to yield extra high performance. Such lenses incorporate either aspherical, UD, and/or flourite elements.



Floating System

Curvature of field can cause appreciable distortion with fast wide angle lenses at close focusing distances. To combat this annoying problem, the floating system is used in many FD wide angles. The distance between the front and rear groups changes the closer you focus, thereby countering any curvature which is liable to occur. Performance over the entire focusing range is enhanced and short-distance shooting can be improved. The system is featured in, among others, the New FD 17mm f/4, New FD 24mm f/1.4L, New FD 24mm f/2, New FD 85mm f/1.2L and New FD 24-35mm f/3.5L.

Two-group Zoom System

The popularity of zoom lenses has resulted in Canon's special attention to its further development: Among them, the two-group system was introduced. Four-group zoom lenses cause barrel and pincushion distortion at short and long focal lengths, respectively. With the two-group design, both halves have separate functions. The front component changes the focal length and focus while the rear one compensates for any shift of focus during zooming. The smaller size of the front component makes Canon's short zooms very compact and correct possible aberration. Two groups zoom lenses include all short zooms from the New FD 24-35mm f/3.5L to the New FD 35-105fnm-f3.5.

How about one touch zoom ? The FD 70-210mm f/4 and the FD 100-300mm f/5.6 are performed with a single convenient ring, making for portability and ease of operation. While A telephoto zoom that is perfect for sports and wildlife photography was also introduced with the New F-1, FD 150-600mm f/5.6L. It was the first zoom lens in the world with an internal focusing system.

Aspherical Lenses

The spherical shape of ienses tends to cause spherical aberration. The problem arises especially when using large apertures in dim lighting situations and is due to the varying refractions and focal points of the rays that pass through the lens. Spotlights and unshielded tungsten lamps cause significant color fringing with resultant loss of sharpness. Canon "L" lenses rectify this with aspherical elements. Fast lenses such as the New FD 14mm f/2.8L, New FD 24mm f/J.4L, New FD 50mm f/1.2L and New FD 85mm f/1.2L, produce flare-free images even at full aperture and have greater light gathering power. An aspherical element also takes credit for eliminating barrel distortion in a wide-angle zoom, the New FD 2435mm f/3.5L.

Rear-group Focusing System

Some FD telephoto and super-telephoto lenses like the FD 200mm f/4 and New FD 800mm f/5.6L were incorporating with this feature. The rear group moves internally without changing the overall length of the lens. The result is a lighter, more compact and better balanced lens with a shorter minimum subject distance. Further, it can be made smoother in operation throughout the focusing rangeby a special Vari-pitch cam system.

All FD lenses are coated and their inner surfaces anti-reflection treated for optimum light transmission and color balance and maximum elimination of ghost and flare. By the way, Canon has added a "New" in front of their "revised" FD series to differeciate the earlier FD and the newer ones that has employed new optical components or other improvements. Thus, in the used market, please be alert of these.

* Note: Canon Extension Tubes FD 15-U, FD 25-U and FD 50-U can be used with any Canon FD lens having a focal lenyth from 35mm to 200mm except for the FD 85mm f/1.2L. The FD 15-U tube can also be used on FD 28mm lenses.


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